it's New Year's Eve...

and hopes are high,

dance one year in,

kiss one good-bye

another chance, another start,

so many dreams to tease the heart

~from Sunset Boulevard, A.L. Webber

Cheery chives on the sunny meander yesterday.

 A beach wander seemed a good way to say good riddance to this year, so one last 2011 visit to Point No Point Lighthouse.

Gorgeous vista.

where's There?

One keeps itching to get there. Where? Never mind
where; one gets there at last, and does not come back
again to tell anyone else where
or how, or what it is like there.

One drives internal combustion vehicles
or one walks, or one rockets across the sky.
Restlessness is the ness one goes by.
It infallibly takes one there.

"There" by George Johnston, from The Essential George Johnston. © The Porcupine's Quill, 2007.

Here's to the new paths of 2012.

post-Christmas

one more shot of Luke riveted by the singing Pooh.

While Seattle does have good food, it was great to go out for several Mexican meals while I was in California.  This particular photo is going to go down in the family hall o' fame.....the server asked my mother if she would care for refried or whole beans.  She heard 'COLD beans' and couldn't figure out why anyone would want to order that.  Then the entire thing dissolved into a giggling fit--between her and the server.  By the time we left, the entire staff was in on the 'whole bean' gag.

Beautiful fountains at the SeaTac waiting area for shuttles.  It was SO delightful to be back in the clean air of the NW that I will draw a veil over the 14 hours it took me to get from door-to-door.  Next time, I'm driving.

 Some of my Christmas loot:  lovely pink feather-down vest which will be fabulous during the winter months.

Fun and sparkly jeans.

the eve of Christmas

Tracking Santa's progress via google maps and NORAD.

 Uncle Dave has a baby Jack shift

While Queen Linda and Prince Jack have a nice Kodak moment.

Luke didn't care so much as to which present was for whom, he just loved the thrill of opening the wrapping.

Dave enjoying a platter of Peppermint Patty.

Luke, absolutely delighted with his singing Pooh bear.

Okay, a bit out of order, but some delightful & delicious cupcakes from Los Gatos.

 

Ari, having his turn during game night.

Beginning of the setting of Christmas Dinner.

Extremely proud Grandma D with baby Jack.

Table getting more festive.

 Pre-dinner nap.

Opening gifts.

Christmas cracker crowns--oh, so important to the gift opening process. 

classic Christmas poetry

"And THEN
They'd do something he liked least of all!
Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Would stand close together, with Christmas bells ringing,
They'd stand hand-in-hand.  And the Whos would start singing.

They'd sing!  And they'd sing!
AND they'd SING! SING! SING! SING!

You probably now need to read the rest of the poem in Dr. Seuss's genius book (skip that hideous new movie adapted from the book).  It's a very strange Christmas season for me; it is the first time in 27 years that I have had not one single concert/recital/performance/service.  And while I will deeply revel in staying in my cosy pj's ALL DAY long on Christmas Eve, I look forward to adding music back in to next year's festal season.

merry, merry everyone.  May your plates be full, may the sugar plum fairies dance for/with you, and may you find twinkles of light.

the way to San Jose

Penny found waiting for the 3 a.m. shuttle seemed to be a good omen for this trek southward for the Christmas holidays.

As our aircraft 'did not possess the equipment to land in this slight fog', I had many early morning hours to kill at SeaTac.  Saw a sign for free photos with Santa and after asking if there were an age limit, went and posed with Santa.  After I exited, I noticed an entire line of adults queuing up behind me!!

A very fun One-Man-Band.

 Dime found at the other end of my flight.

Cosy afternoon with the sis and her cats.

Oh, such yummy food to be had in the Bay Area.

AND!  An entire dollar found on the sidewalk.

sun of solstice

Was delighted that the sun was out as I wanted to find this labyrinth on the island.

 love the metaphoric meandering pathway that it takes to get to the center.  Yes, one could technically step over the stones and zip straight to the middle, but it is calming to wander.

 Happy toes in the sunshine; if only it were this simple to find the calm and the solution to all the things that frustrate me at present.

Aaaaaand speaking of presents, the above arrived in the post!!!!  Makes me believe in the magic of Santa again as this was the one tangible thing I wanted, but did not ask for as I have no kitchen.  Cannot wait to unpack this and begin the cookies galore.

And a penny found on my way back from looking at a possible new home (and permanent) home for me.  Auspicious way to begin Winter.

tickled ivories

finally got a key to my classroom areas and went in today to practice on the piano and found this miniature plaque!  It's a rather lousy piano, but it's a very cool historical connection that I don't mind so much.

twinkled

Cousins lined up to see Ms. S in her first dance recital

 la star du spectacle et le meilleur danseur

 sniff, sniff

because a Diva always holds her own flowers

showing her swag to Grandpa L

brilliance of ordinary

whimsical gateway along this morning's walk

"Experience.  Dream.  Risk.  Close your eyes and jump.  Enjoy the free fall.  Choose exhilaration over comfort.  Choose magic over predictability.  Choose potential over safety.

Wake up to the magic of everyday life.  Make friends with your intuition.  Trust your gut.  Discover the beauty of uncertainty.  Know yourself fully before you make promises to another.

Make millions of mistakes so that you will know how to choose what you really need.  Know when to hold on and when to let go.  Love hard and often and without reservation.

Seek knowledge.  Open yourself to possibility.  Keep your heart open, your head high, and your spirit free.  Embrace your darkness along with your light.  Be wrong every once in a while, and don't be afraid to admit it.  Awaken to the brilliance in ordinary moments.

Tell the truth about yourself no matter what the cost.  Own your reality without apology.  See goodness in the world.  Be Bold.  Be Fierce.  Be Grateful.  Be Wild, Crazy, and Gloriously Free.  Be You."

from what I wish for you, compiled by patti digh